Startland News Staff

Recent Articles by Startland News Staff

Fans react Thursday at Power & Light as news breaks that Kansas City will host during the 2026 World Cup; photos by Channa Steinmetz/Startland News

KC scores 2026 World Cup for Arrowhead; games expected to mean big business for region’s economy

Fans rallied in near-triple-digit heat Thursday in the heart of Kansas City as the region scored a longtime goal: earning a spot on the roster of 16 host cities for the coming 2026 FIFA World Cup. “To be named a host city for not only the biggest single sport event in history, but as part…

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Dr. F. Nicholas Franano, Artio Medical; photo courtesy of Max McBride

Artio closes $28M as it scales to save lives; latest funding brings Prairie Village startup’s investments to $74M 

Another hefty funding round for Artio Medical is expected to launch the startup’s commercial sales team in the U.S. and continue development of its best-in-class product pipeline, said founder Nicholas Franano. Artio, a medical device company developing innovative products for the peripheral vascular, neurovascular, and cardiology markets, on Thursday announced the closing of $28 million…

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Dave Johnson and the Chicken N Pickle team at the 2022 KC Chamber Small Business Celebration

Chamber awards ‘Small Business of the Year’ to trendsetter that caught ‘lightning in a bottle’

In its third match as a Top 10 Small Business, Chicken N Pickle earned the Chamber’s coveted Mr. K Award — signifying the North Kansas City family entertainment experience as the Small Business of the Year. Dave Johnson, founder of Chicken N Pickle, accepted the honor Wednesday during the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s…

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Matt Condon, Bardavon Health Innovations

Bardavon acquires San Fran health app to complete hybrid treatment platform for workers

Adding PeerWell — and the San Francisco startup’s leadership — to the portfolio of tools at Bardavon Health Innovations will help the Overland Park health powerhouse complete the industry’s first digital solution for worker musculoskeletal health, said Matt Condon. Together, Bardavon and PeerWell will pair in-person therapy, virtual coaching, and self-care for injury prevention and…

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Angus Kennard, Inauro, Luke Anear, SafetyCulture, and Craig Kesby, Inauro

SafetyCulture invests $2.1M in IoT startup Inauro, growing tech portfolio focused on frontline safety

A $2.1 million investment by SafetyCulture into a data and IoT software startup is part of an ongoing, focused effort to boost emerging technologies that enhance frontline processes, the global workplace operations company said Monday. “We’re constantly pushing to find new ways to innovate and automate processes so tasks can be done to higher standards,…

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Dusty Birge, Snappy Workflow

Snappy Workflow closes $1M round with electric backing from Nebraska investors

Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. KEARNEY,…

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C2FO primes for global expansion with C-suite adds; new CFO joins from post-IPO SelectQuote

Editor’s note: C2FO is a financial partner of Startland News. Two new C-suite appointments to C2FO’s leadership team come as the Kansas City-based startup swells to record funding activity and projects new phases for its global expansion and growth. Ragui Selwanes, a veteran tech executive, joins C2FO as chief product and technology officer, a newly…

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Black & Veatch investing $50K in CAPS network, hoping to unite corporate champions amid lagging labor market

One of the earliest supporters of the Center for the Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) is stepping up again to set the tone for foundational corporate backing as the Johnson County-spun experiential learning effort scales across North America. CAPS announced Monday a $50,000 investment from Black & Veatch to further long-term employment solutions for the engineering…

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‘Cyderes’ emerges from Fishtech, Herjavec merger; new cybersecurity powerhouse aims to reshape market

Editor’s note: Cyderes is a financial partner of Startland News, supporting Community Builders to Watch and Startland News Live. Security stakes are at an all-time high, said Robert Herjavec, star of ABC’s “Shark Tank” and CEO of the newly announced Cyderes — a rebranded cybersecurity leader with its sights set no lower than becoming the new…

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Kansas City Assembly Plant; photo courtesy of Ford

Ford investing $95M, adding 1,100 new union jobs at KC plant to boost electric vehicle production

One of Kansas City’s biggest employers is driving further into its commitment to local jobs and strengthening its electric vehicle portfolio, adding a third shift at Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant and bringing new focus to its evolving strategy. Ford announced Thursday it is investing $95 million and adding 1,100 new union jobs in Kansas…

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